by David Jackson, USA TODAY

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

President Obama returned to Washington on Sunday after more than two weeks in Hawaii, ready to pick up his legislative and political agenda for 2014.

His list includes health care, unemployment insurance, income inequality, the minimum wage, jobs and National Security Agency surveillance programs.

In a weekend radio address, Obama said his "New Year's resolution" is "to do everything I can, every single day, to help make 2014 a year in which more of our citizens can earn their own piece of the American Dream."

This week, Obama plans to lobby Congress for an extension of unemployment benefits that expired at the turn of the year. He is also expecting Senate confirmation of a new Federal Reserve chair, Janet Yellen.

Sometime this month, the president is expected to make a speech outlining changes to NSA surveillance programs that critics say give the government too much power to spy on people.

Obama caps the month with his State of the Union address on Jan. 28.

Among the issues he's expected to address that night: The rising gap between rich and poor in the United States, as well as the economy overall. The president is expected to again ask Congress for an increase in the minimum wage.

The president and congressional Republicans may also tangle over details of the budget agreement they reached last month, as well as a proposal to increase the nation's debt ceiling.

Obama, who left for his traditional end-of-the-year vacation in Hawaii on Dec. 20, boarded Air Force One at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam early Sunday morning (late Saturday night Honolulu time). He returned to the White House in the mid-morning, eastern time.

First lady Michelle Obama is staying behind in Hawaii for a few days, an early present ahead of her Jan. 17 birthday.

"As part of her birthday gift from the president, the first lady will remain in Hawaii to spend time with friends ahead of her upcoming 50th birthday," the White House said.

Back in Washington, the Obama administration is continuing to put its health care plan in place, amid criticism over the signup website, canceled policies and confusion over new coverage rules.

Health care and the economy figure to be big issues throughout the year, right to the congressional elections in November.

Obama's foreign policy team is also pursuing diplomatic initiatives with Iran, Syria and the Israelis and Palestinians.

The administration is also winding down the war in Afghanistan, with the end of combat operations set for December.

In the radio speech, Obama said that "after five years of working and sacrificing to recover and rebuild from crisis, we have it within our power, right now, to move this country forward. It's entirely up to us."